MAY 10, 2013

Long Beach's Pook joins New Jersey F1 project

Long Beach race founder Chris Pook has been signed up to help organise next year's inaugural formula one race in New Jersey.

On Thursday, amid scepticism the street race will ever take place, we reported that the project's chief marketing officer and chief financial offer have left.

But in a media statement issued after the publication of those reports, the 'Grand Prix of America' announced that Pook has now joined as 'special assistant' to organiser Leo Hindery.

Most recently, Pook - who brought F1 to Long Beach in the mid 70s - was linked with the sport's potential return to those same Californian streets.

But, now, Pook "will provide consultation with respect to all aspects of construction, planning and execution" of New Jersey's F1 race, the statement said.

"Chris has a history of great success in formula one, which I'm confident he'll bring to the grand prix of America race," Bernie Ecclestone is quoted as saying.

(GMM)